Sunday, January 17, 2010

Week 17 TV Ratings and Analysis; How the Sitcoms Did

Week 17 TV Ratings (first four nights, Mon-Thurs finals):
(We don't have final network averages for Wednesday and Thursday, so we won't give you the network averages for the first four night, but please find the final program final ratings in the analysis below.)

Households: N/A
Total Viewers: N/A
Adults 18-49: N/A

Week 17 (Jan. 11-17) Analysis: For week 17, American Idol returned for Fox so here we go again. So far through the first four days of the week I can project (since network averages are not available above), Fox is obviously in the lead in HH/viewers and 18-49. CBS follows in a solid second in those categories, with ABC in third in every category, and NBC fourth in every category as usual. Last week, week 16, NBC battled thanks to NFL playoff coverage in HH/viewers as it tied CBS in HH, and won in viewers, while Fox prevailed in 18-49 over NBC. Fox was third in HH, but second in viewers, as CBS was third in viewers. ABC was fourth in HH/viewers, but very close behind. ABC was third in 18-49, with CBS way back in fourth. It was a very close week thanks to football.
On Monday it was CBS in the lead new episodes of their regulars. CBS started with new episodes of its comedies and ended with a new CSI: Miami. How I Met Your Mother started it off with 9.77 million, great but it was its 100th episode so it could have been a bit higher, while a new Accidentally on Purpose followed doing 8.44 million. Two and a Half Men followed with a new showing doing 17.27 million, that is very strong, and The Big Bang Theory followed with a new episode of its own doing a series high of 15.82 million. It also did a series best 5.7 18-49 rating, building on the lead-in's 5.4. A new CSI: Miami did 13.7 million, not bad but seems lower than usual. ABC got good mileage again out of The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love doing a solid 10.5 million, up a million from previous week, and a 3.6 18-49 rating for the two-hours. A new episode of Castle returned with guest star Alyssa Milano and did a solid 9.47 million and a 2.6 18-49 rating. Fox was on the map with House but it did a below normal 12.25 million and a 4.6 18-49 rating. A new episode of Fringe on a special night did 7.72 million, not bad. NBC started off with a new Chuck at a decent 7.35 million and 2.6 18-49 rating, but Heroes plummeted doing only 4.72 million and a 2.1 A18-49 rating., both series lows. Cancel this already. The Jay Leno Show followed with only 4.8 million, but it built a bit from the lead-in in total viewers at least. The CW aired repeats of One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl doing 1.16 million and 730,000 viewers, terrible.
On Tuesday, Fox and CBS had a lot to talk about. Fox of course started a new season of American Idol with 29.94 million, off a bit from last season's premiere in viewers but up 1% in 18-49 to a 11.8 rating. By far and away the highest rated series of course. CBS started with a new NCIS doing 20.85million, off a bit from previous week as it was a milestone episode. Then spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles was next with a new showing of its own doing 15.6 million, down nearly three million from previous week as it didn't handle Idol as well as its parent--but still good. And finally CBS aired a new The Good Wife doing a solid 13.87 million, basically on par from previous week. NBC was next with a two-hour The Biggest Loser doing 8.11 million, down over 3 1/2 million from previous week, the 18-49 rating went from 4.6 to a 3.2. It is NBC's saving grace still though. Then The Jay Leno Show tanked as usual to 6.1 million, but down only a bit from previous week. ABC started off with a repeat of Scrubs [Med School] doing only 2.45 million only, followed by a new showing of Better off Ted doing only 2.17 million, down from previous week as its lead-in was a repeat this week. All-new episodes of each followed doing only 2.72 and 2.5 million, ouch. At 10pm, the forgotten was new and did only 4.32 million and just a 1.2 18-49 rating, but at least it was on par from previous week. The CW aired repeats of 90210 and Melrose Place doing only 700,000 and 660,000 viewers...worse than Monday repeats even overall and down from previous week's repeats.
Wednesday it was Fox on top again. Fox aired a 90-minute American Idol doing 26.39 million and a 10.1 18-49 rating, down a lot from previous night, but still far and away the highest rated series. A repeat of the 450th episode of The Simpsons followed with 8.06 million, not bad but lost a lot of the lead-in. CBS started with new episodes of Old Christine and Gary Unmarried at below level numbers thanks to Idol, doing 5.97 and 5.59 million. Next CBS aired a new Criminal Minds doing a solid 13.9 million, with big gains in the second half-hour as Idol ended. A new CSI: NY followed with a solid 14.03 million. ABC comedies were next with a repeat of Modern Family at 8pm doing a decent 5.12 million, followed by a new episode of The Middle doing 5.95 million and a 2.1 18-49 ratings, beating the competing CBS comedy in both measures both down two million from previous week thanks to Idol. Modern Family was also new and did 7.83 million, down over two million from previous week as it went head-to-head vs. Idol. It's 3.3 18-49 rating was still solid, but down from previous week's 4.1. It won't face Idol this week. Cougar Town was also new and did a solid 7.27 million and a solid 3.1 18-49 rating, both down a bit from previous week. Ugly Betty was next at 10pm and did an OK 4.4 million...down some from previous week. Needs to do better. NBC was next with a new episode of Mercy doing 5.85 million, down over a million from previous week, followed by a repeat of Law & Order: SVU doing 7.65 million. At 10pm NBC aired The Jay Leno Show of course at 5.31 million, which was actually up a bit from previous week. The CW aired more repeats as more One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl did only 817,000 and 535,000 viewers. Ouch, but both up a tad from previous week though.
Thursday it was a CBS and ABC battle. CBS opened with a repeat of The Mentalist at a solid 9.4 million, a new CSI followed with a solid 15.33 million. At 10pm The Mentalist was also new and did 15.38 million, but both dramas played second fiddle to ABC in 18-49. ABC started off with an ABC News Special on Haiti: Race to Save a Country that did 5.36 million, followed by the Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice crossover that did 12.78 and 10.96 million, not bad but could have been better. 18-49 for both was 4.8 and 4.2 rating. Fox had a new Bones doing a quiet 10.75 million and a new Fringe did 6.6 million, better than usual here. NBC had new episodes of its comedies with Community, doing the best of the bunch oddly at 5.42 million, Parks & Recreation, was next and did only 4.63 million, The Office was preempted for two new episodes of 30 Rock and that did not work as two episodes did only 5.12 and 4.98 million, ouch. The Jay Leno Show closed the night with only 4.41 million, its worst Thursday episode ever for the second week in a row. The CW aired more repeats as Vampire Diaries did 1.65 million and Supernatural did 1.33 million...their best night by far of the week, but both were off a bit from previous week.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available as usual, but CBS won Friday with their dramas. ABC saw good gains from Supernanny and Shark Tank, while NBC did decent with Dateline at 9pm.
Saturday numbers saw CBS dominate with coverage of the NFL Divisional Playoff game. Fox was a distant second with its regular shows but with solid Saturday numbers, as NBC and ABC were well back.
Tonight ABC has its guns of AFV, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters, that should do well. NBC has the Golden Globes that should help them nearly win the night. CBS has a new 60 Minutes at a special time of 8pm and Cold Case at 9 following an NFL playoff overrun that will have them win the night. Fox has the premiere of Human Target which might get lost in the shuffle tonight, and the two-hour season premiere of 24 from 9-11pm. All the networks tonight will have something good to tout I think. I think CBS could prevail in HH/viewers over Fox thanks to NFL. But Fox should hang on in 18-49. CBS will likely be second in 18-49, with ABC and NBC in third and fourth across the board. As for this coming week, look for the series premiere of Life UneXpected on The CW at 9pm tomorrow.

Week 17 How the Sitcoms Did

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week 16 -- Jan. 4-10)

  • The Simpsons (Fox) - The 450th episode airing after a high rated NFL playoff game did 14.62 million and a strong 6.9 in 18-49. Big lead in certainly helps things. A weird 20th anniversary special of the series followed from 8:44-9:44 and did a solid 11.43 million and a 5.5 18-49 rating.
  • The Cleveland Show (Fox) - 8.14 million and a 3.8 18-49 rating, at a special time of 9:44pm-10:13pm. Obviously up some from previous week with a big lead-in.
  • Family Guy (Fox) - preempted.
  • American Dad (Fox) - preempted.

Monday Sitcoms

  • How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 100th episode did a solid 9.77 million and a 3.9 18-49 rating, season highs I think...but I was expecting more.
  • Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) - 8.44 million for a new episode, decent, but could be better. Will be moving to Wednesdays at 8:30 late next month.
  • Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 17.27 million overall, what more can you say? 5.4 18-49 rating is also great.
  • The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - Series highs again! 15.82 million and a 5.7 18-49 rating. Yes, the lead-in helps this show, but it still builds in 18-49.

Tuesday Sitcoms

  • [scrubs] (ABC) 2 episodes - Two airings of the [Med School] edition did only 2.45 million for a repeat at 8pm and a new episode at 9pm only did 2.72 million. Idol bait.
  • Better off Ted (ABC) 2 episodes - Only 2.17 million and 2.5 million for two all-new episodes. Both down obviously from previous week as it went face-to-face with Idol.

Wednesday Sitcoms
  • Old Christine (CBS) - A below normal 5.97 million for a new showing.
  • Gary Unmarried (CBS) - 5.59 million for a new episode, but built from the lead-in's 1.8 18-49 rating to a 1.9 rating.
  • The Middle (ABC) - A new episode at 8:30pm following a repeat of Modern Family did 5.95 million and a 2.1 18-49 rating, both beating Gary on CBS.
  • Modern Family (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat at 8pm did 5.12 million. Not bad. A new episode at 9pm did 7.83 million and a 3.3 18-49 rating, both down from previous week as it faced Idol.
  • Cougar Town (ABC) - A new episode did a solid 7.27 million, good showing. 3.1 18-49 rating is decent, too.
  • The Simpsons (Fox) - A special repeat of the 450th episode did 8.06 million and a 3.6 18-49 rating, but it had Idol as its lead-in...

Thursday Sitcoms

  • Community (NBC) - A new episode did 5.42 million, actually the best of the night for NBC. Sad right?
  • Parks & Recreation (NBC) - Only 4.63 million. A disappointment .
  • The Office (NBC) - preempted.
  • 30 Rock (NBC) 2 episodes - Two new episodes aired and without The Office as a lead-in, the show did bad. 5.12 million and 4.98 million...and what about 18-49? Both did only a 2.3 rating.

Friday Sitcoms

  • None.

Saturday Sitcoms

  • None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) are no sitcoms.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Cougar Town & Accidentally on Purpose were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Community, The Middle) or just plain old terrible (such as Better off Ted, Scrubs).


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Sunday, May 28

The Conners - "Possums, Pregnancy and Patriarchy" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Harris makes a big announcement. Meanwhile, Ben is overwhelmed with family responsibilities.

The Conners - "Hiding In and Moving Out" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Harris takes her anger out on Darlene. Elsewhere, Dan and Louise spend an entire day in bed together.

The Conners - "The Contra Hearings and the Midnight Gambler" (ABC, 10:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mark fights for a spot in the Lanford High chamber orchestra. Elsewhere, Jackie puts a lottery machine in the Lunch Box.

The Conners - "Road Trip and Guilt Trip" (ABC, 10:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dan and Jackie take a road trip to a hardware wholesaler in Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Darlene heads out of town and leaves behind a plethora of to-do notes for Becky and Ben.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 22)

Friday, May 26

  • Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Watch Jason on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Ali Wong (Big Mouth/American Housewife/Are You There, Chelsea?) - Ali is a guest on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) - Chris appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Sebastian Maniscalco (How to Be a Bookie) - Sebastian talks about his new film About My Father on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your listings.
  • Issa Rae (Insecure) - Issa is a guest on The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
  • Bill Bellamy (Mr. Box Office/Men, Women & Dogs/Cousin Skeeter) - Bill appears on The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
  • Ming-Na Wen (The Single Guy) and BD Wong (All-American Girl) - Ming-Na and BD talk about Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Hailee Steinfeld (Dickinson) - Hailee and actor Shameik Moore sit down together to talk about their new film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, in theaters on June 2 on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Leslie Odom Jr. (Love in the Time of Corona/Big Dady) and Nicolette Robinson (Love in the Time of Corona/Perfect Couples) - Leslie and Nicolette chat with the ladies of The View on a repeat on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Daniel Wu (American Born Chinese) - Daniel talks about American Born Chinese on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
  • Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim) - Kimberly is a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)

Growing Pains - The Complete Series Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Twelve Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

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05/24 - Antenna TV's Father Knows Best Father's Day Fest Marathon; Netflix Gets Glamorous This June
05/23 - CBS Summer 2023 Reality Schedule; Apple TV+ Announces Peanuts Programming
05/22 - More Details on Zoey 102; New Lifetime Movie Series Coming July 8
05/21 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 22, 2023)
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05/19 - Futurama Triumphantly Returns July 24; Final Season of Physical Drops August 2; Primo Premieres May 19 on Amazon Freevee
05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
05/11 - CBS Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; The CW Summer Lineup Has Comedies
05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22
05/08 - NBC's Hot Wheels Gets Celeb Judges; Zooey Deschanel's Max Series Premieres May 23
05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)
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05/05 - BUZZR's Classic TV Moms Week; Fox's Stars on Mars Celebs Announced
05/04 - Dancing with the Stars Returning to ABC in Fall; Conan O'Brien Producing New Podcast Miniseries
05/03 - Roku 2023 NewFront; Peacock Schedules Kaley Cuoco Series
05/02 - COZI TV's Little House Mother's Day "Ma-A-Thon"; Human Resources Returns June 9 on Netflix
05/01 - Peacock's Twisted Metal Drops in July; IFC Dark Comedy SisterS Launching May 17
04/30 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 1, 2023)
04/29 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Bob ♥ Abishola to Return with Smaller Regular Cast; CBS Developing Comedy Set in 1700s
04/28 - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Returns in June; Apple TV+ Releases Details on Platonic
04/27 - Antenna TV's One-of-a-Kind, One Day at a Time Mother's Day Marathon; And Just Like That... Gets S2 Premiere Date